Shipley's Record Earns First NWC Track Weekly Honor Of The Season
FOREST GROVE –
Tyler Shipley's (So., Forest Grove, Ore.) record-breaking effort in the men's 10,000 meters at the Linfield Erik Anderson Memorial Icebreaker has earned the Pacific distance runner selection as the Northwest Conference's Men's Track Student-Athlete of the Week. The award, as selected by the conference's sports information directors, was announced Monday night.
Â
Shipley opened the outdoor season by running a lifetime best and school record during Friday night's distance events at the Linfield Icebreaker. In a competitive race, Shipley cross the finished line first in a time of 31:06.59. The performance was not only 15 seconds better than his best in the event last season, but broke the 36-year-old record in the distance of 31:21.1 set by Russ Rodriguez in 1978.
Â
The time would rank Shipley No. 1 in the event on the NCAA Division III best list, but does not qualify because the distance races at the meet were run before the first official qualifying date of Mar. 1.
Â
"It was a fine effort by Tyler to open the outdoor campaign," said Pacific Head Coach Tim Boyce. "He ran a smart, controlled race knowing that in his next 10,000 meters we will be looking to really run at his best level. I am very happy to see him add his name to the school record board."
Â
Shipley enters the outdoor season as the defending NWC champion in both the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters, performances that earned him selection as the NWC Championship's Men's Track Athlete of the Meet. He ran the conference's top time last year in both events.
Â
This is the fifth time that Shipley has earned NWC Student-Athlete of the Week honors this season. He was recognized four times during the cross country season as he went on to earn First Team All-NWC and All-West Region honors. He qualified for the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships for the second straight season. During the indoor season, Shipley ran school record of 8:43.84 in the 3,000 meters and 15:03.59 in the 5,000 meters.
Â
Pacific returns to competition on Saturday, taking part in the Rich Allen Classic, which will be hosted by George Fox University at Colcord Field in Newberg.
